Our Team

Building community is at the heart of everything we do. Our team brings decades of experience across the arts, education, health, housing, and philanthropy.

  • ACE/121

    ACE/121 is a 70-unit affordable apartment community in Glendale, CA, that houses three generations of artists: older professional artists, younger professional artists, and families with children involved in the arts. The project was developed with the Glendale YMCA. The campus offers an art gallery, large community rooms, a sculpture garden, and an arts-related entry that connects the community with the Arts & Entertainment District to the West. ACE/121 is constructed using sustainable green principles and built to LEED Silver standards certification.

  • Burbank Senior Artists Colony

    The Burbank Senior Artists Colony is a first-of-its-kind 141-unit older adult apartment community that offers art and creativity as the core physical and intellectual unifying amenity. The community features a theater group, film company, music program, a 60-seat theater, art studios, music performance spaces, computer media center, outdoor performance areas, art gallery, and a sculpture garden.

  • Long Beach Senior Arts Colony

    Long Beach Senior Arts Colony, along with the adjacent building, The Annex, opened in 2013, and has 200 affordable apartments, with amenities including an art gallery and arts studio with top flight kiln, music performance spaces including a piano, a computer lab and media arts center, outdoor performance areas, gardens, media lounge, and a black box theater with professional lighting and sound systems. The Arts Colony partners with a number of community arts and educational organizations.

  • North Hollywood Senior Arts Colony

    The North Hollywood Senior Arts Colony has all of the amenities of the Burbank Senior Artist Colony, but with the addition of a state-of-the-art 70-seat theater and a resident professional theater company, The Road. In addition to many other programs, EngAGE organizes art shows of professional artists from Southern California in the spacious art gallery.

  • Pacific Avenue Arts Colony

    The Pacific Avenue Arts Colony, an arts-focused community for families, is located near San Pedro’s thriving Downtown Arts District. A fully affordable, 49-unit apartment community, the Pacific Avenue Arts Colony features six ground floor live/work units, as well as professional-grade art studios and art gallery spaces. Residence in this new community was determined based upon submission of artistic works.

Lisa Argenziano

Program Director

Lisa has a BA in Arts Administration, an MA in Psychology, and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. At EngAGE, Lisa uses her diverse skillset to build community and support a positive and meaningful experience for residents of the North Hollywood Senior Arts Colony. Lisa has worked in New York and Los Angeles performing on stage and television, and enjoys making art, singing, and acting in her free time. A Burbank resident since 1988, Lisa has three grown children who also work in the arts.

Tim Carpenter

CEO/Founder

Tim Carpenter founded EngAGE in 1999 and has helped it grow to become a leading model for creative aging and resident services in affordable housing. In partnership with Meta Housing, Tim catalyzed the creation of the Burbank Senior Artists Colony, a first-of-its-kind older adult housing community with high-end arts amenities and programs. Tim is a frequent speaker nationally and internationally and has received numerous awards for social entrepreneurship including the Ashoka Fellowship, the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award, the Stanton Fellowship, and a Durfee Sabbatical Fellowship. Tim has been named a Next Avenue Influencer in Aging and was appointed to serve on Governor Gavin Newsom’s task force on Alzheimer’s.

Brian M. Cole

Program Director

Brian joined the EngAGE team in 2016 and currently oversees all health, wellness, and creative arts programming at four older adult communities in Southern California. In addition to his role with EngAGE, Brian works as an American Sign Language instructor at Santa Monica College and other local colleges, as a frequent producer and press photographer for The Road Theatre in North Hollywood, and with Deaf West Theatre in Los Angeles.

Sarah Davis

Program Director, EngAGE Northwest

Sarah has been an advocate for the St. Helen's community through her years of work in school-based health centers, suicide prevention, medical services, and community engagement. Her focus on strength, kindness, and hope as core values brings a unique set of skills to her role as Community for All Ages Program Director for EngAGE. Sarah has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a master’s degree in Business Administration in Healthcare Management.

Dorsi Diaz

Program Director

Dorsi is a lifelong artist, arts educator, and, in addition to her role at EngAGE, currently serves as the Executive Director of the Sun Gallery in Hayward, CA. A graduate of Chabot College, Dorsi is studying nonprofit management at CSU East Bay and, in her free time, takes photos of her dog Zoey Van Goey, a pup influencer and working model. Dorsi lives by the motto is “Life is Service” and loves helping people of all ages find their talents and purpose. She feels she has found her creative home at EngAGE.

Megan Eldridge

Program Director

Megan joined the EngAGE team in 2022, and brings with her an eclectic mix of professional and life experiences, including aquatics instruction for students of all ages, boutique management, and most recently, home staging for an interior design company. Her friendly nature and creative spirit make her a wonderful fit for the role of Program Director in Orange County, CA. Megan has lived in several states across the U.S. as well as in Okinawa, Japan.

Jennifer Fallon

Administrative Assistant

Jennifer graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in Education and a specialization in Psychology. After teaching elementary school for more than ten years, she discovered a second love working with older adults. Jenn worked as a Program Director for seven years and is now the Administrative Assistant focused on data, evaluation, marketing, and communications. A military spouse for 30 years, Jenn and her husband have three grown sons and a puppy named Bowen.

Cynthia Friedlob

Websites & Social Media Manager

Cynthia keeps EngAGE in the public eye by generating relevant and fun content for our websites, blog, and social media. She has writing credits for tv and film studios including Hanna-Barbera, Marvel, Warner Bros., and Disney. She served as a host and producer of Experience Talks on KPFK-FM and has been an exhibiting fine artist for over 30 years. She is the author of In Praise of the Smaller Life: a journal of memories and musings, which advocates skipping the bucket list of exotic adventures and savoring the joys of life close to home. A longtime LA resident, Cynthia earned her BA in Sociology and MA in Mass Communications from the University of Denver.

Nancy Goodhart

Chief Operations Officer

Nancy supports operations and staff, supervises programs, and works closely with developers and partners. She has been with EngAGE since its very early days and is passionate about promoting health for older adults through movement and creative expression, which she believes manifests in all areas of life. She is the co-author of “The Essentials of Aging,” a 12-week introduction to the EngAGE model and has taught fitness and recreation to students of all ages in Maryland, New York, and California. She holds a BA in Recreation Program Planning & Physical Education from the University of Maryland, a teaching credential in Physical Fitness, Health and Safety for Older Adults from CSU Long Beach, and is certified in Falls Prevention Training.

Jean Marie Hatton

Program Director

Jean Marie comes to EngAGE with 20+ years of experience in creative arts management and feels that every milestone and achievement in life is deserving of celebration. With sustainability as a core value, Jean believes in “reuse and recreate” and loves to collect donated goods for art projects, which not only reduces waste but leads to new and exciting creative outcomes as well. Jean Marie has lived all over the country, but finds that her heart loves the sunshine and energy of California most of all.

Rosa Jones

Program Director

Rosa grew up in a bilingual, multigenerational household in Southern California where she developed a strong sense of service. Prior to joining EngAGE, Rosa worked with youth and adults with disabilities in California, Colorado, and Nebraska, and is now delighted to use her creativity to connect, empower and encourage residents of all ages at EngAGE. She earned her BA in Psychology in 2011 and, in her spare time, enjoys gardening, hiking, running, reading, painting, and spending time with family and friends.

Laura Mason

Executive Director, Northern California

Laura is responsible for developing strategic partnerships, projects, and resources to enhance and expand EngAGE’s award-winning program model. Prior to joining EngAGE, Laura was the Program Officer for the May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust Elders program area and has held numerous board and leadership positions, including at Art With Elders. Laura has a BA in Social Science from San Francisco State University and a Master’s in Nonprofit Administration from the University of San Francisco.

Meloney Morse

Regional Program Director

Meloney began as a volunteer with EngAGE in the summer of 2007 and joined our staff in 2009. As a Regional Program Director, Meloney provides social services to residents in need, coordinates food distribution programs, and ensures the delivery of diverse arts and wellness programming across several EngAGE communities. She earned her BS in Psychology from Cal State University at Long Beach and has more than 15 years of experience working with older adults.

Miles Morse

Program Director

Miles joined the EngAGE team in 2016 and brings with him a passion for health, nutrition, and active living. He facilitates the delivery of fresh produce and pantry staples at several sites across Orange County and, using his keen technology skills, offers training and support for all older adult and family communities. He is a continuing student at Santiago Canyon College where he is studying Business Administration.

Nirvan Patnaik

Program Director

Nirvan, an actor of South Asian descent, grew up in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and studied theatre performance at the University of Southern California and the British American Drama Academy. He believes in making art and creativity more accessible to all and strives to incorporate it in every aspect of life. He finds working for EngAGE to be creative, challenging, and ultimately rewarding.

Maria Rojo de Steffey

Executive Director, EngAGE Northwest

Maria is responsible for EngAGE Northwest, including building relationships with developers and community partners, negotiating contracts, supervising staff and daily operations. Prior to joining EngAGE, Maria served two terms as a Multnomah County Commissioner where she designed and co-chaired the County’s Vital Aging Task Force and worked extensively in media communications, operations, event services management, sales and marketing. She is also the former owner and manager of ALMAR Contracting LLC, a state certified WBE/MBE business that renovates and repairs multi-family housing apartment buildings.

Alivia Schaffer

Intergenerational Program Director

Liv received her BFA from Dominican University of California, and has since designed a career that weaves together her own artistic practice with arts accessibility, education, and community engagement. She works as a professional dancer — performing, choreographing, and teaching locally and nationally, and as an Adjunct Professor at the University of San Francisco where she directs Dance Generators. Originally from Chicago, Liv now resides in Oakland, California, and loves strong coffee, live music, taking walks, and cooking with friends.

Arnold Schmidt

Program Director

Originally from Germany, Arnold has been teaching and making music in the Los Angeles area for more than 30 years. A graduate of the Musicians Institute in Hollywood and ardent supporter of arts education, Arnold works with local schools to create and promote music programs and events, and as an Artistic Consultant for musicians seeking to increase their reach. Arnold is enthusiastic about lifelong learning, especially in the areas of music and technology.

Ernie Silva

Program Director

Ernie has extensive experience performing stand-up comedy and is also an accomplished musician. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Acting from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and an MFA from the University of Southern California. During his time at USC, Ernie developed his award-winning, and world-traveled solo stage show entitled, Heavy Like the Weight of a Flame.

Henry Sotelo

Program Director & Social Services Coordinator

Henry is responsible for providing direct services and curated programming to residents in EngAGE arts colonies and communities supporting individuals re-emerging out of homelessness. Prior to joining EngAGE, Henry developed and directed AmeriCorps Seniors Federal Grants/Programs for underserved older adults. He earned his BA in Film & Electronic Arts from CSU Long Beach and an MA in 3D Animation from the Academy of Art in San Francisco. In his free time, you can find him enjoying live music and hiking/biking the Coastal Trail with friends and family.

Laura Spidell

Regional Program Director, EngAGE Northwest

Laura graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a double major in Sociology and Environmental Studies and went on to earn a Master’s in Urban & Regional Planning from Portland State University. Prior to joining EngAGE, Laura worked as a city planner with a focus on housing access and with several nonprofits. She is an an active community volunteer with her local neighborhood association, farmer’s market, schools, and food pantries. In her free time, Laura is an avid reader and loves to spend time camping and hiking with family and friends.

Phu Tran

Social Services Coordinator

Phu earned his BA in Social Work from California State University, Los Angeles and has been a social worker dedicated to supporting older adults since 2014. With the goals to support, empower, and encourage individuals toward achieving their best quality of life, Phu believes in building trust through compassion, consistency, and spending quality time listening to the needs of clients. Phu is fluent in Vietnamese and offers thoughtful and culturally appropriate social services for residents in need of supportive services.

Cathy Trout

Program Director

Cathy’s experience in the nonprofit sector includes everything from teaching young graffiti artists graphic design software to fundraising, project management and web/social media design. A dedicated community volunteer, Cathy formed a support group for single parents, managed kitchen operations for a weekly meal program, and helped older adults who were formerly homeless settle into their new supportive housing units. Cathy loves painting, crafting, gentle hikes with friends, singing in her church’s band, and spending quality time with her daughter.

Sandra Vargas

Regional Program Director

Sandra joined EngAGE in 2011, after more than 13 years with the LA Unified School District where she delivered afterschool programs for children of working parents. An alumna of CSU Long Beach, Sandra also holds a certificate in Child Development from East Los Angeles College and is a certified Substance Abuse Counselor. In her free time, Sandra loves to help her son with his nonprofit project “No One Left Cold,” which collects unwanted blankets, clothes, and shoes throughout the year for semi-annual distributions to LA’s Skid Row Community.

Sandra Wareing

Program Director

Sandra received her BA in Psychology from the University of Minnesota and shortly thereafter moved to London, England, for work in computer graphics. She then moved to Los Angeles where she worked for 30 years in Human Resources and as an Executive Assistant in the entertainment industry. Sandra now resides in Orange County and, in her spare time, enjoys volunteering as a tutor for adults through the Newport Beach Public Library Adult Literacy Program.

Alma Wright

HR/Finance Assistant, Program Director

Alma joined EngAGE in 2014 with a background in the arts, interior design, and photography. She has always loved working with her hands and has tried everything from portrait drawing to reupholstering old furniture. In addition to her impressive creative skills, Alma works on the finance/accounting team and as the HR coordinator. She earned her Associate of Arts Degree with emphasis in Advertising and Graphic Design from Pasadena City College.